Device for Strengthening Inner Abdominal Muscles

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus for effecting transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise, includes a back support and an arm exercising assembly. The arm exercising assembly comprising a gripping bar having gripping portions for gripping by the user&#39;s hands, and which is coupled to a resistance assembly. The gripping bar is reciprocally movable against the biasing force from a first raised position, where said gripping bar is forward and outwardly above said user&#39;s shoulders, and a second lowered position spaced forwardly outwardly above the user&#39;s torso. The resilient biasing force is selected on multidirectional force having an upward biasing component, a downward biasing component independent thereof, and a resilient rearward biasing component all acting in concert.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus which is adapted for concurrent exercise movement of a user's arm and core muscles to effect exercising movement of the user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The desire to flatten the stomach and reduce the waistline has resulted in various devices and methods that exercise the abdominal muscles. These devices are used in various positions such as lying, kneeling, sitting, or standing. Typically, in order to target the core muscles conventional exercise apparatus effect exercising movement whereby the user bends forwards, sideways or rotates. The core muscles can also be worked on by movement of the extremities, such as leg raises or arm extensions, in conjunction with bending or tilting of the mid-section or with the core stabilized while the extremities move independently. Resistance may be used by the extremities to provide an added workload to the core muscles. The specific muscles that are utilized during traditional ab exercises are the Rectus Abdominis (RAs), Internal Obliques, External Obliques, and Transverse Abdominis (TAs), forming the four major muscle groups of the core. The RAs are known as the ‘6 pack’ and are engaged when bending forwards such as when performing crunches. The obliques are used when bending sideways or rotating the trunk. The TAs lie underneath the Obliques, and are known as the ‘human Girdle’. Unlike the other abdominal muscles that are movement based muscles, the TAs are stability based and their major function is to provide stability and support to the spine.

Although performing traditional core exercises helps to strengthen muscles that are useful during sports, fitness activities or everyday life, they do little towards the objective of flattening the stomach or reducing the waistline. The major reason for this is due to the focus of the muscle groups engaged during the traditional core exercises. When performing crunches or bending side-to-side the bridging muscles mostly targeted are the Rectus Abdominis (RAs) or Obliques. The inner most abdominal muscles, the TAs and Internal Obliques are typically used incidentally and are not optimally stressed. Although exercising the RAs helps to develop a ‘6 pack’, it typically is less effective in reducing the waistline, and conversely, when the muscles are developed, may result in the belly becoming distended giving a bloated look or a thicker midsection. As such, unless the person is shirtless and the ‘6 pack’ becomes visible, it's hard to tell if the person has a fit midsection or is out of shape. Consequently, the benefits from ab exercises which most people are hoping to achieve, such as the flattening of the stomach or reducing the waistline, are not being met.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Nauli Kriyas performed during yoga and abdominal vacuums performed by bodybuilders, both have a similar approach to flattening the stomach without the use of traditional ab exercises. They both use diaphragmatic breathing during midsection compress.

The challenge of the mid-section looking muscular but not bloated is most prominent in the sport of bodybuilding. One possible solution to minimize waist line thickening is to perform torso “vacuuming” or “hollowing” exercises where a user fully exhales his or her breaths. This approach may facilitate flattening the stomach and reducing the waistline, creating an esthetically appealing look where the midsection looks small in comparison to the upper and lower body.

A user's breathing technique in the performance of vacuum exercises may further provide enhanced exercise which optimally target the TAs. When air is breathed in, the diaphragm contracts (moves downwards), causing the stomach muscles to bulge out and the lungs to expand. As air is breathed out, the diaphragm relaxes and moves up, the stomach moves inwards and the lungs contract to achieve abdominal inward deflection or compression. Vacuum or abdominal deflection or compression may preferably be performed when the midsection is clenched tightly for a period, and preferably for about 10-20 seconds, during which air is breathed out and the diaphragm moves upwards (‘hollowed’ midsection). By ‘hollowing’ the midsection, exercises may be affected on the TAs by driving the surface of the stomach inwardly towards the spine and/or compressing the sides of the midsection together. As the TA muscles develop, so does the ‘girdle’ making the midsection tighter and smaller.

Benefits of vacuum exercises may include: increase in lung capacity that is particularly useful to aerobic or endurance activities; a reduced risk of injury to spine during heavy lifts; reduction of back pain; improvement of posture; and force production of lower limbs. Furthermore, as the TAs become developed there is an increased mind-to-midsection awareness. This results in an individual performing abdominal compression exercises at any time, such as while standing and waiting in line, sitting in a chair at the office or driving a car or lying in bed. As such, the benefits of reducing and maintaining a flatter stomach are longer lasting.

Since in certain aspect breathing and clenching are primarily involved, vacuum exercises are advantageous over other abdominal exercises that require bending or tilting or lifting which are usually performed in a gym or at home.

Vacuum or hollowing exercises have heretofore not been widely adopted. Firstly, they are not a comfortable exercise to perform. To achieve optimum vacuum exercises, the person preferably exhales or breathes out substantially fully and clenches the stomach as hard as possible while remaining breathless for a period of time, typically 10 to 20 seconds. This experience is uncomfortable and even painful since, in order to optimally engage the TAs by this method, intense exertion is required while feeling suffocated. The second problem is that since the TAs are hard to exercise by regular conventional exercises, vacuum exercises may require increased focus, attention and dedication to optimize these exercises. Vacuum and hollowing exercises have heretofore discouraged the use of conventional exercise equipment adopted to performing traditional ab exercises, and which reduce the ability of a user to properly hollow the midsection due to their operational mechanics. Engaging other abdominal muscles, such as RA, during resistance training interferes with the user's diaphragms' ability to lift fully. Vacuum exercises have heretofore primarily been performed as part of yoga or a tailored body builder exercise regime.

One non-limiting objective of the invention is to provide an exercise apparatus which in use, allows for abdominal compression of the torso front and/or sides by arm resistance, in concert with vacuum or hollowing exercises in a manner which may be simpler, more comfortable and/or more effective and efficient. Unlike traditional abdominal exercise apparatus that focus on movements that require flexing of abdominal muscles, in one aspect, the invention provides an exercise apparatus which provides an arm exercising assembly which may be moved against a resistance force. Most preferably the arm exercising assembly is movable whilst the user contracts and releases abdominal muscles using a systematic contraction or relaxation of his or her diaphragm, breathing and midsection clenching process that reduces the midsection instead of adding thickness to it.

Another non-limiting aspect of the invention is to provide an apparatus which in use, adds arm resistance to the vacuum type exercises, allowing for quicker development of the TAs due to the added stress placed upon them. The resistance can be singular-directional (Primary Resistance), that is generally perpendicular to the user's chest creating a pressure in the direction of the compression thus allowing the belly button-to-spine drive, or inward compression of the abdomen, to occur more easily and deeper than without the resistance. More preferably, a multi-directional resistance, or Secondary Resistance, can be used that creates two or more directional forces on the user's arms simultaneously. For example one resistance direction can be within a range of 0-90 degree angle originating from behind the user's head and another simultaneously at 0-45 degrees originating from the front of the head. Without being bound by a particular theory, the multi-directional and concurrent arm resistance may increase the effectiveness of vacuum exercises undertaken to exercise transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles due to the multiple pull forces on the arms resulting in added instability requiring increased engagement of the inner most abdominal muscles to counteract those forces and create stability for the lumbar spine and pelvis.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for an apparatus for effecting transverse abdominis and/or in abdominal muscle exercises while maintaining user's upper body with his or her spine flat and substantially immobilized, whilst allowing squeezing or compression of the front or sides of the midsection or transverse abdominis muscles together that give the sensation of tightening user's abdominal girdle.

In one preferred method of using the invention, the user performs both mock inhales and exhales in combination. By this method, rather than holding the breath for 10-20 seconds and squeezing as required by traditional vacuum exercises, the user moves his or her arms again the apparatus resistance, and most preferably concurrently with a combination of sucking the belly in, while drawing the gut inwardly or compressing following forced exhale. More specifically, upon exhaling, the user concurrently compresses his or her midsection using arm resistance. In other words, the need to engage the TAs' by consciously squeezing the mid-section is at least in part, replaced by the pressure created by the resistance mechanism making it easier for the user to perform vacuum exercises.

In a simplest construction, the exercise apparatus includes a backrest or support, a pair of gripping handles which are adapted to be grasped by the user's hands with his or her arms generally outstretched, and a resistance mechanism such as moveable arms, elastic bands, or cables connected to the handles and attached to weight stacks or hydraulic pistons. In one possible configuration, the resistance mechanism consists of elastic bands that are attached to the backrest or apparatus frame at one end, and at their other end with one or both handles. The backrest is preferably positioned to substantially immobilize the user's spine against movement when positioned thereafter, so that resistance can be used by the user's arms while exercising without involving other abdominal muscles other than the TAs.

The backrest is positioned to support the user with his or her back substantially flat against a seat back portion and inclined at about 0° to about 90° from horizontal and preferably comfortably lying in a supine position. The applicant has appreciated that in a substantially reclined supine position, the lower body and external abdominal muscles may be more relaxed. This may advantageously allow increased focus to be on exercising the TAs. While in the reclined supine position, the user's legs can be either bent, raised upwards or more preferably, positioned flat against the floor extending outwards. The legs can also be crossed at the ankles to add additional focus on the TAs. The user may then grasp and move the handles, against resistance provided by the resistance mechanism to extend the arms outwardly over the chest. The arms are preferably maintained in a substantially locked, fully extended position for the majority of the movement, however slight bending may occur at the start of each repetition depending on the final handle and resistance mechanism arrangement. The locked arms advantageously may result in lesser involvement of biceps or triceps, so that they are not prematurely fatigued during exercise, before the benefits to the TAs are fully realized.

With a forced exhale, air is fully breathed out of the lungs and the belly is drawn in after which the handles are moved in arcuate movement. Following the full exhale of breath, the user lowers his or her arms from an orientation generally perpendicular to the chest position, downwardly at an inclined angle of about 30-60 degrees. In the downwardly moved position, when using multi-directional resistance, the user's arms are most preferably subjected to the resilient biasing forces of the resistance mechanism in two or more directions, including a rearward force in a direction towards the apparatus backrest, and an upward return force towards the raised handle position orientated normal to the user's chest. At this point the resistance may allow for targeting of different muscle region exercises such as lower, middle or upper abs. The user next moves the handles from the downward inclined position, to the perpendicular chest position; and then to an upwardly-inclined orientation positioned above the hand at an angle of 10-60° and preferably 10-45°.

During movement of the arms, the user will recognize the angle which has the most effect in targeting the lower, middle or upper abdomen. Once at that location the user can continue to hold that position and drive the surface of the targeted area to the spine, or pulsate the arms over a short range of motion of 10-20 degrees; alternatively the user can cover a broader area by pulsating the arms within a longer range of up to 45 degrees. This technique is different from vacuums since the user does not continually squeeze the midsection for 10-20 seconds while holding his breath, which can be very uncomfortable. Furthermore the technique is also different from traditional crunches that require you to inhale at the start of the crunch, then flex the RAs while exhaling then immediately lower back to the lateral position while inhaling. With crunches the user is taught to move in a rhythmic and timely manner with coordinated breathing.

A further objective with the arm movement is to control the drag force created by the resistance on the arms and use those forces to activate the inner abdominal muscles to achieve a deeper belly-to-spine drive and tightening of the girdle function. Furthermore, as the arms are moved to the upwardly incline orientation with the handles above the head, the midsection is stretched, lengthened, and tightened. In contrast, traditional crunches flex the RAs on the curl upwards which causes the muscles to develop and midsection to thicken. Furthermore by the method prescribed by the invention, the need for coordination between the mind, diaphragm, and the TA improves the mind to TA connection that is useful for performing compression exercises at any time.

Furthermore, since the resistance on the user's arms also engages the TAs directly and provides for an added stress, during exercise discomfort is reduced as compared to the holding of breath alone for prolonged periods while in a clenched position.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting aspect, the invention provides an exercise apparatus operable to effect transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscle exercise, the apparatus comprising, a seat back support for supporting a user in an exercising position with said user's spine juxtaposed thereagainst, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including, an elongated gripping bar having gripping portions for gripping by a respective one of said user's hands, and a resistance assembly coupled to the gripping bar and providing a resilient biasing force thereon, the gripping bar being selectively reciprocally movable by said user against the resilient biasing force along a path between a first raised position, wherein said gripping bar is spaced forwardly a distance outwardly above said user's shoulders, and a second lowered position wherein said gripping bar is spaced forwardly a distance outwardly above said user's torso or abdomen, the resilient biasing force comprising a multidirectional force which includes a resilient upward biasing component, a resilient downward biasing component independent of said upward biasing component, and a resilient rearward biasing component acting in concert with each of the upward biasing component and the downward biasing component, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the first raised position, the resistance mechanism resiliently biasing the gripping bar rearwardly and downwardly.

In another non-limiting aspect, the invention resides in exercise apparatus assembly for exercising transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles in a user, the apparatus comprising, a generally horizontal back support for supporting a user in an exercising position with said user's spine resting substantially horizontally thereon, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise the user's arm muscles when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including, a gripping bar having a pair of spaced handle grip portions for gripping by a respective hand of said user, a resistance assembly coupling the gripping bar for movement relative to the back support, the resistance assembly including a plurality of resiliently deformable members providing a multidirectional biasing force on said gripping bar, the gripping bar being selectively movable by said user along a generally arcuate path between a first position, wherein said gripping bar is moved forwardly outward a distance vertically above the user's shoulders, and a second position wherein said gripping bar is pivoted downwardly to a position spaced vertically above said user's abdomen, wherein when said gripping bar is in said first position, a first said resiliently deformable member providing a first resilient biasing force thereon to resiliently bias the gripping bar towards upward and rearward movement, and a second said resiliently deformable member providing a second resilient biasing force thereon to resiliently bias the gripping bar towards downward and rearward movement.

In a further aspect, the invention resides in an exercise apparatus operable to effect internal abdominal muscle exercise in a user, the apparatus comprising, a generally horizontal back support for supporting a user in a substantially horizontal exercising position thereon, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise the user's arm muscles when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including a pair of spaced handle grip portions, the handle grip portions for gripping by a respective hand of said user with his or her arms in a substantially outstretched position, a resistance assembly including a plurality of resiliently deformable members providing a respective multidirectional biasing force on said handle grip portions, wherein said handle grip portions are selectively movable by said user against said biasing force along a generally arcuate path between a first position, wherein said handle grip portions are moved forwardly an outward distance vertically above the user's shoulders, and a second position, wherein said handle grip portions are moved downwardly to a position vertically above said user's abdomen or torso, and the resistance assembly including first and second resiliently deformable members wherein when said handle grip portions are moved to said first position, the first said resiliently deformable member providing a first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in upward and rearward movement raised above, and the second said resiliently deformable member providing a second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in downward and rearward movement, and wherein when said handle grip portions are moved to said second position, the first resiliently deformable member providing said first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in said upward and rearward movement, and the second resiliently deformable member providing said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in at least said rearward movement.

Other aspects of the invention further include, without limitation:

-   (i) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein when the gripping bar is moved     to the second lowered position, the resistance mechanism resiliently     biasing the gripping bar rearwardly and upwardly; -   (ii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein when the gripping bar is moved     to the first position, the resilient rearward biasing component     resiliently biases the gripping bar downwardly in a direction away     from said user's head, the resilient rearward component resiliently     biases the gripping bar towards a lowered position spaced towards     said seat back support; -   (iii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects further including a deflection gauge     operable to measure a deflection of at least one of said user's     abdominal cavity and said user's diaphragm, and when said gripping     bar is moved to or towards said second position, said deflection     gauge operable to display and/or effect output of at least one of a     visual indication, a visual signal and an audio signal     representative of at least one of a measured abdominal deflection     and a target degree of abdominal deflection; -   (iv) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said deflection gauge includes a     contact member provided for engaging contact with said user's torso     or abdomen, the contact member being selectively displaceable in     movement with the compression and decompression of said user's     transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles, and wherein a     measured distance of contact member displacement is correlated the     deflection of the user's abdominal cavity and/or the user's     diaphragm; -   (v) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said gripping bar includes an     output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating     with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises     the activation of said display to signal each of said target degree     of abdominal deflection and said measured abdominal deflection; -   (vi) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said deflection gauge is a     self-calibrating gauge which is operable to sense at least one of     substantially non-deflected abdominal cavity condition and     substantially fully deflected abdominal cavity condition, said     deflection gauge being operable to correlate said measured degree of     abdominal cavity deflection to said target abdominal deflection; -   (vii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said seat back support comprises     a generally horizontal support and/or said gripping bar is moveable     reciprocally along a generally arcuate path of movement, said arm     exercising assembly being operable to exercise said users deltoid     and/or pectoral muscles with said user gripping said gripping     portions with said user's arms substantially fully extended; -   (viii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein the gripping portions are spaced     towards respective opposed ends of the gripping bar; -   (ix) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein the gripping and/or handles are     moveable along a generally reciprocal path of movement and/or most     preferably an arcuate path of movement. More preferably, the arm     exercising assembly being operable to exercise said user's deltoid     and/or pectoral muscles with said user gripping said gripping     portions with said user's arms substantially fully extended; -   (x) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects further including a third said     resiliently deformable member, wherein when the gripping bar is in     said first position the third resiliently deformable member     providing a third resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the     gripping bar vertically rearward; -   (xi) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects further including a deflection gauge     operable to measure an inward deflection distance of said user's     abdominal cavity during said transverse abdominis and/or inner     abdominal muscle exercise, and when said gripping bar is moved to or     towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to     effect output to said user at least one of a visual display, a     visual signal and an audio signal representative of a measured     abdominal deflection and a target degree of abdominal deflection; -   (xii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said gripping bar includes an     output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating     with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises     the activation of said display to signal each of said measured     abdominal deflection and said target degree of abdominal deflection; -   (xiii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said deflection gauge is a     self-calibrating gauge which is operable to sense at least one of a     substantially non-deflected abdominal cavity condition and a     substantially fully deflected abdominal cavity condition, said     deflection gauge being operable to correlate said measured abdominal     deflection to target degree of abdominal deflection; -   (xiv) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said deflection gauge includes a     contact member configured to resiliently maintain engaging contact     with said user's abdomen, the contact member being reciprocally     displaceable in vertical movement with the compression and     decompression of said user's transverse abdominis and/or inner     abdominal muscles, and wherein a measured distance of contact member     displacement is correlated to the deflection distance of the user's     abdominal cavity; -   (xv) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein when said gripping bar is moved     to said second position, the first resiliently deformable member     providing said first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the     gripping bar in said upward and rearward movement, and the second     resiliently deformable member providing said second resilient     biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in at least said     downward movement; -   (xvi) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said resiliently deformable     members comprise elastomeric members, at least one of the first     resiliently deformable member and the second resiliently deformable     members being at least partially housed within an associated     positioning support, wherein each associated positioning support     extends forwardly from said seat back support to an end position     spaced above said user in said exercising position; -   (xvii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein each positioning support is     selected from the group consisting of a substantially rigid sheath,     a tube and a guide channel, the positioning supports being mounted     for pivotal movement relative to said back support with said     gripping bar; -   (xviii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein in said second position the     second resilient biasing force further resiliently biases the     gripping bar towards upward movement; -   (xix) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said resiliently defobrmable     members comprise elastomeric members, at least one of the first     resiliently deformable member and the second resiliently deformable     members being at least partially housed within an associated     positioning sheath; -   (xx) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein each associated positioning     sheath extends forwardly from said back support to an open end     spaced above said user in said exercising position; -   (xxi) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects further including a deflection gauge     operable to measure an rearward deflection of at least one of said     user's abdominal cavity and said user's diaphragm, and when said     handle grip portions are moved to or towards said second position,     said deflection gauge operable to display and/or effect an output of     at least one of a visual indication, a visual signal and an audio     signal representative of at least one of a measured degree and/or     time of abdominal deflection and/or a target degree of abdominal     deflection; -   (xxii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects wherein said deflection gauge includes a     vertically displaceable contact member positioned for engaging     contact with a portion of said user's abdomen or torso when n said     exercising position whereby the selective compression and     decompression of said user's internal abdominal muscles effect     reciprocal displacement of the contact member a respective distance     rearwardly and forwardly, and wherein the measured abdominal     deflection is correlated to at least one respective distance; -   (xxiii) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects further including an output display,     said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output     display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of     said display to signal said target degree of deflection of said     user's abdominal cavity; -   (xxiv) an exercise apparatus according to the aforementioned or     hereafter described aspects further including a third said     resiliently deformable member, in said first position, the third     resiliently deformable member providing a third resilient biasing     force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions rearwardly     downward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically an exercise apparatus in use to exercise a user's transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscles, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows schematically the back support and arm exercising assembly used in the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1, in an initial rest position;

FIG. 3 shows schematically the back support and arm exercising assembly of FIG. 2, with the arm exercising assembly gripping bar positioned in a lowered position relative to the back support;

FIG. 4 shows schematically the positioning of a deflection gauge assembly used in the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 in a mounted position, secured about the user's abdomen;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate schematically the operation of the deflection gauge assembly, in the measurement of the user's abdominal cavity deflection;

FIG. 6 shows schematically the deflection movement of the user's abdominal cavity during transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercising;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate schematically an output display used in the deflection gauge assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically the operation of the deflection gauge assembly shown in FIG. 4 in displaying the user's measured abdominal deflection to the user in operation of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically the user's movement of the arm exercising assembly gripping bar in use of the exercise apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 shows schematically the initial activation of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 with the arm exercising assembly gripping bar in the initial start position;

FIGS. 11 to 13 show schematically the movement of the arm exercising assembly gripping bar first raised and second lowered positions during operation of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1 transverse abdominis and abdominal muscle exercising;

FIG. 14 illustrates schematically a back support and deflection gauge assembly for use in the exercise apparatus of the present invention in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 15 illustrates schematically the operation of the deflection gauge assembly shown in FIG. 16, in the measurement of the deflection of the user's abdominal cavity;

FIG. 16 illustrates a back support and deflection gauge assembly for use in the exercise apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 17 illustrates schematically the operation of the exercise apparatus in accordance with a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference may be had to FIG. 1 which illustrates an exercise apparatus 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention with a user 8 lying in an exercising position thereon, in effecting the exercise of the user's transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscles. The exercise apparatus 10 includes a back support 12 for supporting the user 8 in a reclined position thereon, an arm exercising assembly 14 which as will be described, is provided to facilitate the user's upper body and arm exercise, and a deflection gauge assembly 16 which is adapted to measure and output to the user 8 the degree of deflection of the user's torso during actuation of the arm exercising assembly 14.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show best the back support 12 and arm exercising assembly 14. The back support 12 includes a seat back portion 22 for supporting the user's spine in a substantially horizontal juxtaposed position thereagainst, and which is integrally formed at an upper portion thereof with a moulded head rest 24.

The arm exercising assembly 14 is provided with a pair of elongated side frame members 26 a, 26 b which extend in parallel along each side of the back support 12, an elongate gripping bar 28 and a resistance assembly 30 coupling the gripping bar 28 to each side frame member 26. The side frame members 26 a, 26 b optionally may further be provided at their forwardmost ends with a respective cradle recess 36 sized to supportingly receive the gripping bar 28. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cradle recess 36 advantageously provides a storage position for the gripping bar 28 prior to the user 8 assuming the exercising position and the commencement of transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise in use of the apparatus 10.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the gripping bar 28 as extending laterally the width of the back support 12 and having at each end thereof a handle grip 32 a, 32 b positioned for gripping by each of the user's hands. Although not essential, the gripping bar 28 further may be provided with a display 34 which is provided in electronic communication with the deflection gauge assembly 16. The deflection gauge assembly 16 is operable to output to the user 8 a visual indication of both a measured time and/or degree of the distance or value of deflection of the user's abdominal cavity during use of the apparatus 10, as well as a preselected target time and/or degree of deflection.

The resistance assembly 30 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as three pairs of support members 38 a, 38 b, 40 a, 40 b, and 42 a, 42 b. Each support member 38 a, 38 b, 40 a, 40 b, 42 a, 42 b is respectively hingedly connected at one end to a respective frame member 26 a, 26 b by an associated pivot connection 44, and which are coupled at their other ends to an associated respective end of the gripping bar 28.

Although not essential, the side frame members 26 a, 26 b may be provided with a number of spaced pivot connection mountings 45. The pivot connection mountings 45 are positioned with a selected mounting socket 47, formed along the side frame members 26 a, 26 b. The mounting sockets 47 allow the pivot connection mountings 45 to be secured in a number of selected positioned, depending on the user's 8 size and/or build, to allow for optimum positioning and resistance tension on the gripping bar 28.

In the preferred embodiments shown, the pivot connections 44 secure the end of each support member 38 a, 38 b, at a respective location spaced vertically forwardly above the surface of the back support 22 and raised about the head of the user 8 when positioned in the exercising position. The pivot connections 44 secure the ends of each support member 40 a, 40 b about each side head rest 24 raised at or above the user's shoulders; and the pivot connections 44 secure each end of the support members 42 a, 42 b along the sides of the seat back portion 22 adjacent the user's abdomen. It is to be appreciated, however, that other mounting positions for the support members 38 a, 38 b, 40 a, 40 b, 42 a, 42 b are also possible.

As shown best in the enlarged partial view of FIG. 3, each support member 38 a, 38 b, 40 a, 40 b, 42 a, 42 b includes an elastically deformable cord or elastomeric member 46 which in a preferred construction is received at least partially within a semi-rigid or rigid plastic or elastomeric supporting sheath 48. Although not essential, the supporting sheath 48 advantageously may assist in maintaining the positioning the gripping bar 28 spaced a forward distance vertically above the surface of the back support 12 and above the user 8 in resting thereon in the exercise position, for increased comfort.

As will be described, the support members 38 a, 38 b, 40 a, 40 b, 42 a, 42 b act concert to provide a multi-directional resistance force on the gripping bar 28 in use of the exercise apparatus 10 to perform arm exercises by the user 8.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically the deflection gauge assembly 16 used in the exercise apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 as including a compression/extension belt 50 which, as shown, is adapted for placement circumferentially about the user's lower torso or abdomen, and a measuring gauge 52 which is operable to output a signal or display indicative of the degree of the retraction or extension of the belt 50. As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 6, as the user 8 performs vacuum exercises and contracts his/her abdominal muscles, the user's stomach and abdomen will deflect from the relaxed distended position 100 to the contracted position 102. This contraction will result in the user's abdominal cavity drawing inwardly in diameter and front abdominal surface moving rearwardly downward towards the back support 12 from a first rest position P₁ to a contracted position P₂ deflecting a measured distance D_(f). With the contraction of the abdomen, the circumference of the user's torso concurrently reduces from the undeformed diameter shown in FIG. 5A to the constricted diameter shown in FIG. 5B.

Although not essential, most preferably the apparatus 10 provides for the pre-setting of a target degree of abdominal deflection which is to be achieved during transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise. The deflection gauge assembly 16 provides a visual output of the actual measured abdominal deflection relative to the pre-selected target deflection, enabling a user 8 to visually determine whether the desired degrees of abdominal exercise is being maintained.

In this manner as shown schematically in FIG. 8, the deflection gauge assembly 16 outputs by way of the measuring gauge 52 an indication to the user 8 of the measured degree of deflection of his/her abdominal cavity and diaphragm. In a most preferred construction, as shown in FIG. 8, the measuring gauge 52 is provided in either wired or wireless communication with the gripping bar display 34 enabling the user 8 to visually monitor the degree abdominal deflection simultaneously with gripping bar 28 movement in undertaking arm exercises.

Reference may be had to FIGS. 9 to 13 which illustrate schematically the operation of the exercise apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, in accordance with a preferred mode of effecting the exercise of the transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscles of the user 8.

As will be described, the gripping bar 28 of the apparatus 10 is moved reciprocally in pivotal movement above the user 8 in the direction of arrow 200, whilst the user concurrently selectively contracts and releases abdominal muscles to effect the deflection of his or her abdominal cavity. As shown in FIG. 10, in performing exercises, the user 8 reclines against the back support 12 with his/her head resting on the head rest 24 and spine oriented generally horizontally against the seat back portion 22. While the gripping bar 28 the user 8 fully extends his/her arms upperwardly to grasp the handle grips 32 a, 32 b, and raises the gripping bar 28 to lock the arms fully extended with the gripping bar 28 in the initial first raised position shown in FIG. 11. In the first raised position the gripping bar 28 is spaced a forward distance above the back support 12 with the user's arms outstretched and raised slightly above the shoulders. It is to be appreciated that in this position, each of the elastically deformable cords 46 of each of the support members 38 a, 38 b, 40 a, 40 b, 42 a, 42 b are placed under tension. The resistance assembly 30 thus acts to provide a multi-directional biasing force (F₈) on the gripping bar 28. Most preferably the support members 38 a, 38 b resiliently bias the gripping in both an upward direct towards the cradle recess 36 and rearwardly in a vertically downward direction toward the back support 12. The support members 40 a, 40 b resiliently bias the gripping bar 28 substantially vertically rearward toward the back support 12, with or without an upward or downward biasing component; and the support members 42 a, 42 b resiliently bias the gripping bar 28 both downwardly towards the user's abdomen and vertically rearward towards the seat back portion 22.

The user 8 exhales and pivots the gripping bar 28 downwardly in arcuate movement of the direction of arrow 200 whilst exhaling or holding an exhaled breath to contract the abdominal cavity to position P₂ until the gripping bar is moved to the lowered second position shown in FIG. 13. In the second lowered position the gripping bar 28 is spaced above the user's abdomen with the resistance assembly 30 providing a multidirectional force F_(B) thereon. The support members 38 a, 38 b continue to provide a multi-directional force on the gripping bar 28 in the upward and vertically rearward directions. The support members 40 a, 40 b operate to similarly provide a resilient biasing force on the gripping bar 28 with both upward and vertically rearward components; and the support members 42 a, 42 b provide a resilient biasing force on the gripping bar 28 rearwardly towards a lowered position spaced towards the seat back portion 22, either with or without an upward or downward biasing component. As the gripping bar 28 is moved to the second position shown in FIG. 13, the user 8 preferably effects and maintains the full inward deflection of his/her abdominal cavity either towards or at a preselected target deflection for a selected period of time, and most preferably for a period of between about 5 and 30 seconds, and preferably 10 to 20 seconds.

In a preferred mode, the user 8 may monitor the display 34 during movement and positioning of the gripping bar 28 to view in real time both the target and actual measured degree of abdominal deflection. In this manner, any vacuum condition and exercise of the user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles may be optimized. After the preselected time and/or achieving the desired degree of abdominal deflection, with the user's arms fully outstretched, the gripping bar 28 is returned to the first position shown in FIG. 11 whilst inhaling and returning the abdominal cavity to the distended orientation and the movement and abdominal deflection is then repeated.

Although FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate a deflection gauge assembly 16 which incorporates a compression/extension belt 50 and measuring gauge 52 used to measure abdominal cavity deflection, the invention is not so limited. Reference may be had to FIGS. 14 and 15 which illustrate a back support 12 for use in the exercising apparatus 10 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference numerals may be used to identify like components.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the deflection gauge assembly 16 is provided with a rigid contact arm 80 which is mounted for sliding vertical movement on a pair of guide supports 82 a, 82 b. The guide supports 82 a, 82 b support the contact arm 80 in a position spanning the seat back portion 22 over the user's abdomen. The contact arm 80 is provided to resiliently contact the user's stomach/abdomen during use of the exercise apparatus 10 and provide a vertical measurement of its displacement relative to the surface of the seat back portion 22 between distended and contracted positions as transverse abdominis and inner abdominal muscle exercise is effected.

Reference may be had to FIG. 16 which illustrates a further embodiment of a deflection gauge assembly 16 for use with a seat back support 12 in the exercise apparatus 10, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like components. In FIG. 16, the deflection gauge assembly 16 is provided to optically measure the degree of the user's abdominal deflection. In the embodiment as shown, the deflection gauge assembly 16 includes an optical emitter 90 and an optical receiver 92 provided on opposing sides of the seat back portion 22. The optical emitter 90 operates to transmit optical signals such as coherent or infrared light signals which when not occluded by the user's abdomen, are received and detected by the optical receiver 92. By measuring un-occluded optical signals, the receiver 92 may provide a measured degree of abdominal cavity deflection relative to the back support 12.

Although the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the exercise apparatus 10 as including a back support 12 adapted to support a user 8 in a fully horizontal reclined position thereon, the invention is not so limited. Reference may be had to FIG. 17 which illustrates a further embodiment of the exercise apparatus, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like components. As shown, the embodiment of the exercise apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 17 is adapted for use by the user 8 in a seated fully in a 90° upright position or alternately partially reclined.

In the construction shown in FIG. 17, a pair of elastomeric deformable support members 38 a,40 a (together with corresponding members 38 b,40 b, not shown) are shown as respectively coupling the gripping bar 28 to upper and mid-portions of a vertical back supporting portion of the side frame member 26 a. The support members 30 a,30 b,40 a,40 b resulting bias the gripping bar 28 rearwardly and upwardly towards the back support portion of the frame 26.

It is to be appreciated that while FIG. 17 illustrates the gripping bar 28 as being multidirectional biased horizontally and upwardly by support members 38,40, in an alternate construction further resiliently deformable support members (not shown) may be provided coupling the gripping bar 28 to the frame 26 at connection mountings 45′ to provide a downward biasing force component.

Although the detailed description describes and illustrates various preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited. Many modifications and variations will now occur to persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference may be had to the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. An exercise apparatus operable to effect transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscle exercise, the apparatus comprising, a back support for supporting a user in an exercising position with said user's spine juxtaposed thereagainst, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including, an elongated gripping bar having gripping portions for gripping by a respective one of said user's hands, and a resistance assembly coupled to the gripping bar and providing a resilient biasing force thereon, the gripping bar being selectively reciprocally movable by said user against the resilient biasing force along a path between a first raised position, wherein said gripping bar is spaced forwardly a distance outwardly above said user's shoulders, and a second lowered position wherein said gripping bar is spaced forwardly a distance outwardly above said user's torso or abdomen, the resilient biasing force comprising a multidirectional force which includes a resilient upward biasing component, optionally a resilient downward biasing component independent of said upward biasing component, and a resilient rearward biasing component independent of said upward biasing component, and said downward biasing component, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the first raised position, the resistance mechanism resiliently biasing the gripping bar simultaneously at least rearwardly and upwardly.
 2. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the second lowered position, the resistance mechanism resiliently simultaneously biasing the gripping bar rearwardly and upwardly.
 3. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the gripping bar is moved to the first position, the resilient rearward biasing component resiliently simultaneously biases the gripping bar downwardly in a direction away from said user's head, and the resilient downward component simultaneously resiliently biases the gripping bar towards a lowered position spaced towards the user's lower abdomen.
 4. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further including a deflection gauge operable to measure a deflection of at least one of said user's abdominal cavity and said user's diaphragm, and when said gripping bar is moved to or towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to display and/or effect output of at least one of a visual indication, a visual signal and an audio signal representative of at least one of a measured abdominal deflection and a target degree of abdominal deflection.
 5. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said deflection gauge includes a contact member provided for engaging contact with said user's torso or abdomen, the contact member being selectively displaceable in movement with the compression and decompression of said user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles, and wherein a measured distance of contact member displacement is correlated the deflection of the user's abdominal cavity and/or the user's diaphragm.
 6. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said gripping bar includes an output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of said display to signal each of said target degree of abdominal deflection and said measured abdominal deflection.
 7. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deflection gauge is a self-calibrating gauge which is operable to sense at least one of substantially non-deflected abdominal cavity condition and substantially fully deflected abdominal cavity condition, said deflection gauge being operable to correlate said measured degree of abdominal cavity deflection to said target abdominal deflection.
 8. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said back support comprises a generally horizontal support and/or said gripping bar is moveable reciprocally along a generally arcuate path of movement, said arm exercising assembly being operable to exercise said user's deltoid and/or pectoral muscles by reciprocally moving said gripping bar along said arcuate path with said user gripping said gripping portions with said user's arms substantially fully extended.
 9. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gripping portions are spaced towards respective opposed ends of the gripping bar.
 10. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said back support comprises a generally horizontal support, said gripping bar is moveable reciprocally along a generally arcuate path of movement, said arm exercising assembly being operable to exercise said users deltoid muscles by reciprocally moving said gripping bar along said arcuate path with said user gripping said gripping portions with said user's arms substantially fully extended.
 11. An exercise apparatus assembly for exercising transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles in a user, the apparatus comprising, a generally horizontal back support for supporting a user in an exercising position with said user's spine resting substantially horizontally thereon, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise the user's arm muscles when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including, a gripping bar having a pair of spaced handle grip portions for gripping by a respective hand of said user, a resistance assembly coupling the gripping bar for movement relative to the back support, the resistance assembly including a plurality of resiliently deformable members providing a multidirectional biasing force on said gripping bar, the gripping bar being selectively movable by said user along a generally arcuate path between a first position, wherein said gripping bar is moved forwardly outward a distance vertically above the user's shoulders, and a second position wherein said gripping bar is pivoted downwardly to a position spaced vertically above said user's abdomen, wherein when said gripping bar is in said first position, a first said resiliently deformable member providing a first resilient biasing force thereon to resiliently bias the gripping bar towards upward and rearward movement, and a second said resiliently deformable member providing a second resilient biasing force thereon independent of the first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar towards vertically rearward movement.
 12. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 11 further including a third said resiliently deformable member, wherein when the gripping bar is in said first position the third resiliently deformable member providing a third resilient biasing force independent from said first resilient biasing force and said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in downward movement towards a lower portion of said user's abdomen.
 13. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further including a deflection gauge operable to measure an inward deflection distance of said user's abdominal cavity during said transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscle exercise, and when said gripping bar is moved to or towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to effect output to said user at least one of a visual display, a visual signal and an audio signal representative of a measured abdominal deflection and a target degree of abdominal deflection.
 14. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said gripping bar includes an output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of said display to signal each of said measured abdominal deflection and said target degree of abdominal deflection.
 15. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said deflection gauge is a self-calibrating gauge which is operable to sense at least one of a substantially non-deflected abdominal cavity condition and a substantially fully deflected abdominal cavity condition, said deflection gauge being operable to correlate said measured abdominal deflection to target degree of abdominal deflection.
 16. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said deflection gauge includes a contact member configured to resiliently maintain engaging contact with said user's abdomen, the contact member being reciprocally displaceable in vertical movement with the compression and decompression of said user's transverse abdominis and/or inner abdominal muscles, and wherein a measured distance of contact member displacement is correlated to the deflection distance of the user's abdominal cavity.
 17. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein when said gripping bar is moved to said second position, the first resiliently deformable member providing said first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in said upward and rearward movement, and the second resiliently deformable member simultaneously providing said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the gripping bar in at least said rearward movement.
 18. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said resiliently deformable members comprise elastomeric members, at least one of the first resiliently deformable member and the second resiliently deformable members being at least partially housed within an associated positioning support, wherein each associated positioning support extends forwardly from said seat back support to an end position spaced above said user in said exercising position.
 19. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein each positioning support is selected from the group consisting of a substantially rigid sheath, a tube and a guide channel, the positioning supports being mounted for pivotal movement relative to said back support with said gripping bar.
 20. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein in said second position the second resilient biasing force further resiliently biases the gripping bar towards upward movement.
 21. An exercise apparatus operable to effect internal abdominal muscle exercise in a user, the apparatus comprising, a generally horizontal back support for supporting a user in a substantially horizontal exercising position thereon, an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise the user's arm muscles when in said exercising position, said arm exercising assembly including a pair of spaced handle grip portions, the handle grip portions for gripping by a respective hand of said user with his or her arms in a substantially outstretched position, a resistance assembly including a plurality of resiliently deformable members providing independently a respective multidirectional biasing force on said handle grip portions, wherein said handle grip portions are selectively movable by said user against said biasing force along a generally arcuate path between a first position, wherein said handle grip portions are moved forwardly an outward distance vertically above the user's shoulders, and a second position, wherein said handle grip portions are moved downwardly to a position vertically above said user's abdomen or torso, and the resistance assembly including first and second resiliently deformable members wherein when said handle grip portions are moved to said first position, the first said resiliently deformable member providing a first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in upward and rearward movement, and the second said resiliently deformable member providing a second independent resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in rearward movement, and wherein when said handle grip portions are moved to said second position, the first resiliently deformable member providing said first resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in said upward and rearward movement, and the second resiliently deformable member providing said second resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in at least said rearward movement.
 22. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein said resiliently deformable members comprise elastomeric members, at least one of the first resiliently deformable member and the second resiliently deformable members being at least partially housed within an associated positioning sheath.
 23. The exercise apparatus assembly as claimed in claim 22, wherein each associated positioning sheath extends forwardly from said back support to an open end spaced above said user in said exercising position.
 24. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further including a deflection gauge operable to measure a rearward deflection of at least one of said user's abdominal cavity and said user's diaphragm, and when said handle grip portions are moved to or towards said second position, said deflection gauge operable to display and/or effect an output of at least one of a visual indication, a visual signal and an audio signal representative of at least one of a measured degree of abdominal and/or a time of abdominal deflection occurring and/or a target degree of abdominal deflection.
 25. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said deflection gauge includes a vertically displaceable contact member positioned for engaging contact with a portion of said user's abdomen or torso in said exercising position, whereby the selective compression and decompression of said user's internal abdominal muscles effect reciprocal displacement of the contact member a respective distance rearwardly and forwardly, and wherein the measured abdominal deflection is correlated to at least one respective distance.
 26. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 24, further including an output display, said deflection gauge electronically communicating with said output display, whereby the output to the user comprises the activation of said display to signal said target degree of deflection of said user's abdominal cavity.
 27. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further including a third said resiliently deformable member, in said first position, the third resiliently deformable member providing a third resilient biasing force to resiliently bias the handle grip portions in downward movement towards the user's lower abdomen. 